Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US, 1960-2020

Student answer (Band 7.0)

The line graph illustrates how many jobs were available in the four sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020. Units are measured in millions.

Overall, the number of jobs in retail and healthcare have increased, while jobs in agriculture have decreased in the given period. In terms of manufacturing, the job count first increased, and then decreased in the given time.

The number of jobs in retail sector began at nearly 5 million in 1960, and gradually climbed to over 15 million by 2020. Similarly, for healthcare, job count started at approximately 2.5 million, and increased to over 15 million in 2020.

In terms of the number of jobs in manufacturing sector, it was at 15 million in the starting year, and increased to 20 million in 1980. From this point, it declined steadly to around 12.5 million by 2020. The number of jobs in agriculture began at around 5 million in 1960, declined to nearly 3 million in the year 1980, after which it stayed almost similar till 2000, before declining again to nearly 2.5 in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four sectors and made relevant comparisons, such as noting the contrasting trends between retail/healthcare and agriculture. The data points are generally accurate, and the response is well-structured. To reach a higher band, ensure you highlight the most significant 'peaks' or 'crossovers' more explicitly. For example, mentioning that healthcare and retail overtook manufacturing by the end of the period would provide a more analytical summary of the data rather than just listing the changes for each sector individually.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'In terms of', and 'From this point' to guide the reader through the information. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases slightly more to avoid a mechanical feel, and ensure that the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is as seamless as possible.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'climbed', 'declined', and 'steadily'. The vocabulary is appropriate for an academic report. However, to achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more precise collocations or less common lexical items. For instance, instead of 'stayed almost similar', you could use 'remained relatively stable' or 'plateaued'. Additionally, ensure you use articles correctly, such as 'the retail sector' rather than just 'retail sector'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that communication is never impeded. There are minor slips, such as 'declined steadly' (spelling) and 'nearly 2.5 in 2020' (missing unit/noun). While you show good control, increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and ensuring consistent attention to detail in spelling and noun phrases will help you move into the higher band range.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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